The College of New Rochelle Introduces New Art Exhbit 'Debris Field' at the Castle Gallery

Opening Reception Scheduled for Sunday, September 29;

Through something as simple and traditionally unnoticeable as trash, artists are finding an understanding of creative repurposing. The Castle Gallery at The College of New Rochelle (CNR) is showcasing some of these common castoffs transformed into new objects as part of a new art exhibit at the Castle Gallery.

Debris Field features the artwork of 16 artists created from recycled items like plastic containers, cardboard boxes, posters, decommissioned bank notes, used tea bags and other short-term or single-use products. An opening reception for the exhibit is scheduled for Sunday, September 29 from 12pm - 4pm at CNR’s Castle Gallery. The works will also be a part of the New Rochelle ArtsFest that weekend, organized by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts.

On display now through November 3, Debris Field was created by a host of artists including Michael Anderson, Scott Andresen, Ghost of a Dream (the collaboration of artists Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom), Ruth Hardinger, Jack Henry, Gregg Hill, Sara Hubbs, Vandana Jain, Hong Seon Jang, Nathaniel Lieb, Derick Melander, Shari Mendelson, Jimmy Miracle, Tattfoo Tan, Ian Trask, and Lisa Dahl who is the curator of the art exhibit.  

“The exhibit provides a versatile display of creativity from the use of objects that were saved from our own wastebaskets or salvaged from the street. In Debris Field, the artistic labor is often repetitive and intricate, and laced with a desire to change the status quo of how we perceive the products deemed disposable in our lives,” said Curator Lisa Dahl, referencing the artwork as “new objects imbued with beauty, thoughtfulness, even humor” and  “a reincarnation of the practical into sublime.”

Established in 1980, the Castle Gallery is open to the public and serves school groups and art lovers, offering a range of workshops, lectures, film screenings, demonstrations, and family activities free of charge. The Gallery also offers free tours that are tailored to the physical/psychological needs of each group, ensuring that all have access to the exhibits we display.  Last year, the Castle Gallery was awarded the Community Arts Award by ArtsWestchester, recognizing individuals and organizations whose vision, commitment, and leadership enrich Westchester, its communities, and its citizens.

During the past few years, the Castle Gallery has done programs in collaborations with ArtsWestchester, Clay Art Center, Jack and Jill Organization of Westchester, the Westchester Children’s Museum and the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The Castle Gallery has also worked with organizations beyond greater New Rochelle including Lincoln Center Institute, R&F Encaustics/Handmade Paint and Pop-Up Adventure Play. 

The Castle Gallery opened in Leland Castle on the Main Campus of The College of New Rochelle in 1980. For over 30 years, it has been a significant educational and cultural resource for both the CNR Community and the community at large, presenting a wide range of original exhibitions.

The Castle Gallery regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sundays 12pm - 4pm. The gallery is closed on Mondays and on holidays. For more information, please visit www.cnr.edu.